The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-04
A GOOD WORK WE'LL PERFORMED.


Illinois State Board of Health to task for re-
voking the license of two physicians for un-
professional conduct. 1t was claimed that
these physicians violated the code of ethics Of
the medical profession, and their license to
practice was therefore suspended. There
is nothing unusual in this proce-
dure. Attorneys and ministers are
also suspended for violating the codes
OF their respective professions. This is
no place to argue the provisions of the code of
ethics. Like all systems of government it is
no doubt imperfect, and large number of
regular" physicians have declared their pref
erence for a code which simply requires that
a physician shall be man of honor, culture
and professional knowledge. No doubt these
violators of the written code have overstep-
ped their duties as men and physicians, and
are proper subjects Of discipline.
Illinois has a medical practice act, which
makes the State Board of Health the board of
examination of physicians. All physicians
practicing in Illinois must have diplomas
from reputable medicine schools or must pass
examination before the Board of Health. The
schedule Of minimum requirements Of repu-
table medical college, adopted by the Illinois
board in 1850, and in force since 1883, re-
uuires that all medical schools complying
Herewith shall demand of students certif-
Gates of good moral character and an educa-
A. ~ Io0
ematics and natural philosophy. Such col
leges shall have at least two courses of lect-
ures Of five months each, in two different
years in the branches of medical science
anatomy, physiology, chemistry, remedies,
practice, surgery, pathology, hygiene and
medical jurisprudence. Students must at
tend so per cent. of these lectures and be
auizzed twice each week, and pass final ex
animation. They must also attend two
terms of clinics, and hospital service. They
must have read medicine with preceptor a
year, making three years of professional
study. The colleges must also show that
they have competent corps of instructors
and the necessary material appliances. The
above constitute the tests Of ''good standing"
Of medical college in Illinois. Outside sol-
leges must come up to this grade, or their
graduates cannot practice in Illinois until
they have passed an examination before the
State board.
Whatever errors in individual cases the
Illinois State Board of Health may have made,
it is conceded that it has done more to raise
the standard Of medical education than any
other single influence in the last ten years.
The medical practice act of Illinois is not a
dead letter, but is a model for other States to
follow, and this mainly because its provisions
qualifications of practitioners were
left to q competent Board of Health. The
report of this board on medical education and
medical colleges in the United States and
Canada gives detailed account of 233 medi-
cal institutions, dating from the year 1765.
Diplomas of $50 of these schools have been
to the Illinois board for verifcation
and acceptance. OF these schools 128 grant
ing degrees are still in existence-116 in the
United States and twelve in Canada; 101 of
the colleges are regular" thirteen are "home-
miscellaneous" or mixed.
The results of the medical practice act as
carried out in Illinois, are that all the fraudu-
lent institutions in the United States have
become extinct. Among these diploma mills
was the American Anthropological Univer-
Bity, Of St. Louis" which sold diplomas in
Bcotland for cash; it exposed by United
States Commissioner Eaton. The Curtis
Physio Medical Institute, of Marion, Ind, d.
B. Snodgrass, Dean of the Faculty." would
answer no letters of inquiry of the Illinois
State Board, although letters to the county
clerks developed seventeen diplomas on record
In Indiana The catalogue states that means
Of demonstration Of maps, charts and mani
can skeletons"
Ten years ego, when the medical practice
act went into effect, Illinois had 7, 400 doctors,
Of whom but 5000 were graduates and licen-
sates; now there are 6, $50 in practice. Of
whom 5704 are graduates and lcentiates.
The ], 1923 physicians who could not comply
with the law when it went into effect were
compelled to go into other business; over a
thousand of them left the State, many of
them coming to Indiana, still the paradise of
1uacks, as the medical practice act of 1885 is
Of but little value except as it puts fees into
the pockets of the county clerks. Many of
the Illinois doctors qualified themselves by
a period Of study, either graduating or pass
ing an examination before the board. The
work Of the Illinois Board of Health has re-
reived the commentator of all interested in
the intelligence, dignity and usefulness of the
medical profession. They have acted in the
interest Of the commonwealth and not of any
particular school Of medicine, and it should